Chapter 28: Reason

“Bang!”

A single-handed hammer gleaming with metallic sheen slammed down.

Amid the dull sound of metal meeting flesh, the green snake, moments ago coiled and rearing with a warning hiss, became a twitching lump of meat.

“So many snakes in this forest?”

Larry, in tight, compact gear, shook off the blood droplets on his hammer, grumbling.

It had been hours since I joined the team.

The Mist Forest’s dense bushes and tall grass made travel arduous, draining stamina quickly.

Facing potential ambushes, we couldn’t exhaust ourselves on the march (we needed to maintain some combat readiness).

So, we found a relatively safe spot to rest and recover.

I leaned against a tree trunk, sitting in the camp’s corner.

My iron-gray beheading longsword rested beside me, within easy reach.

A damp cloth in hand, I wiped my leather armor.

Though unharmed in the earlier fight with the duo, their blood had splattered me.

It wasn’t about being a clean freak.

Blood scent attracted danger, and the sticky feeling was uncomfortable.

With free time, I cleaned up.

“Xia Nan, are there always this many snakes on your missions?”

Tossing the pulped snake into nearby bushes, Larry asked casually.

As team members, we’d exchanged names.

I glanced up, resisting the urge to dig out the snake’s gallbladder.

Reflecting on my journey, I felt puzzled.

“There do seem to be a lot of snakes on this trip.”

“With the Rotten Fish and Shrimp team, I didn’t see this many in the forest.”

I thought as much but didn’t say it.

This was only my second mission, and I wasn’t much more familiar with the Mist Forest than Larry, so I just said:

“Maybe this area’s unique? You know, the Mist Forest is full of weird stuff. No telling what you’ll run into.”

“Oh? Weird?” My vague reply sparked Larry’s interest. “Like rare magical beasts? Or man-eating giant plants?”

“My cousin said these ‘large magical energy hubs’ even have ancient fortresses and dungeons from legend!”

Discussing exciting topics, Larry’s voice rose, and the blonde girl nearby perked up, seemingly eager for tales from the new adventurer.

But this was beyond my knowledge.

Unsure how to respond, I gave a wry smile, saying helplessly:

“I’m just a newbie. I don’t know about that stuff.”

“Newbie!? You didn’t look like one earlier!”

“Why not ask Wood? He’s way more experienced.” I awkwardly changed the subject.

Larry shrank back, glancing around sneakily, then realized Wood was scouting ahead.

Leaning in, he whispered:

“Him? Except for Hai’an, he looks at everyone like they’re dead. Who’d dare ask?”

“He barely says a word, just glares coldly. If not for…”

“Ahem.”

Hai’an coughed deliberately, cutting Larry off.

His face showed helplessness:

“Don’t listen to his nonsense. Wood’s very competent.”

I quite agreed.

Feeling Wood’s wariness didn’t detract from my respect for his professionalism.

Still fixated on the token, with no chance to ask while traveling, I seized Hai’an’s opening to inquire about its origin.

“This?” Larry jumped in. “I got it last month while shopping. Back then…”

Per Larry, the token was found by an adventurer in the Mist Forest, who thought its exotic style would fetch a good price, but no shop in River Valley Town would take it.

It was sold cheap to the owner of Nyum’s “Griffin Emporium,” where Larry spotted and bought it.

“I wanted that adventurer to guide us, but he refused, so I paid a bit for the location where he found it.”

“Just you guys? Why no guards?”

I spotted the flaw, frowning.

Even rich kids on a countryside trip would bring bodyguards.

From Larry’s attire and behavior, he didn’t seem short on money.

Yet not a single guard?

I didn’t get it.

If it were me, I wouldn’t even come myself. In the forest’s outskirts, hire dozens of pros—safer and better odds of finding something.

Larry just gave a silly grin, scratching his head,

“My dad never liked… bank accounts… all spies… sneaking…”

Muttering incoherently, his gaze flicked to the resting blonde girl.

“Tch.”

I shook my head, curiosity fading.

At this point, for me or Larry, whatever happened was our choice.

“So what’s special about this wood that made you come from Nyum?”

For me, the token’s allure was obvious.

But these native otherworlders?

Not archaeologists, risking the monster-filled Mist Forest for an unknown token wasn’t worth it.

Larry fell silent.

Hai’an sighed softly, explaining:

“I’m leading the team.” He looked up, his silver-gray elven eyes meeting mine.

“I can’t say much, but I suspect this token… is tied to a relative’s disappearance.”

I frowned.

About to speak, a rustle came from the tall grass nearby.

I sprang up, grabbing my beheading longsword, ready for battle.

Then, Wood’s figure in black leather armor appeared.

His gaze swept over us, settling on Hai’an:

“Young master, a discovery.”

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